Bob Dylan: His Life and His Lyrics

Mr. Tambourine Man

Lyric Analysis

Work Sheet


Developed by: W. Huitt
Last Revised: February 2007
 

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Primary Concept: Adult Activities and Lifestyle

 

Masterwork: Mr. Tambourine Man (1965) by Bob Dylan

 

Significant Question: How do experiences in early adulthood impact perceptions, ideas, values, and goals?

 

First Activity:

 

Read about Dylan’s life during 1963 and 1964

Second Activity:

 

Listen to a sample of Dylan singing the song: (sample)

 

Read the song: http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/bobdylan/mrtambourineman.html

 

Reflect on overall feelings evoked by the song.

 

Third Activity: Interpret/reflect on the song (Actively lead by the instructor)

 

Mr. Tambourine Man

Hey ! Mr. Tambourine Man, play a song for me
 

I'm not sleepy and there is no place I'm going to
 

Hey! Mr Tambourine Man, play a song for me
In the jingle jangle morning I'll come followin' you.

 


Though I know that evenin's empire has returned into sand
 

Vanished from my hand
Left me blindly here to stand but still not sleeping

 


My weariness amazes me, I'm branded on my feet
 

I have no one to meet
 

And the ancient empty street's too dead for dreaming.
 


Hey ! Mr Tambourine Man, play a song for me
I'm not sleepy and there is no place I'm going to
Hey ! Mr Tambourine Man, play a song for me
In the jingle jangle morning I'll come followin' you.

Take me on a trip upon your magic swirlin' ship

 

My senses have been stripped, my hands can't feel to grip

 

My toes too numb to step, wait only for my boot heels
To be wanderin'

 

I'm ready to go anywhere, I'm ready for to fade

 

Into my own parade, cast your dancing spell my way
I promise to go under it.

 

 

Hey ! Mr Tambourine Man, play a song for me
I'm not sleepy and there is no place I'm going to
Hey ! Mr Tambourine Man, play a song for me
In the jingle jangle morning I'll come followin' you.

Though you might hear laughin', spinnin' swingin' madly across the sun
It's not aimed at anyone, it's just escapin' on the run
And but for the sky there are no fences facin'

 

 

And if you hear vague traces of skippin' reels of rhyme
To your tambourine in time, it's just a ragged clown behind
I wouldn't pay it any mind, it's just a shadow you're
Seein' that he's chasing.

 

 


Hey ! Mr Tambourine Man, play a song for me
I'm not sleepy and there is no place I'm going to
Hey ! Mr Tambourine Man, play a song for me
In the jingle jangle morning I'll come followin' you.

Then take me disappearin' through the smoke rings of my mind
Down the foggy ruins of time, far past the frozen leaves

 

 

The haunted, frightened trees, out to the windy beach
Far from the twisted reach of crazy sorrow

 

 

Yes, to dance beneath the diamond sky with one hand waving free

 

 

Silhouetted by the sea, circled by the circus sands
With all memory and fate driven deep beneath the waves

 

 

Let me forget about today until tomorrow.
 


Hey ! Mr Tambourine Man, play a song for me
I'm not sleepy and there is no place I'm going to
Hey ! Mr Tambourine Man, play a song for me
In the jingle jangle morning I'll come followin' you.

 

Fourth Activity:

 

Interpret the song in terms of Dylan’s life during 1963 and 1964